Identification of Hoxa1 downstream targets

To better understand the role of Hoxa1 during embryogenesis and gain insight to the transcriptional network controlled by this gene, we carried out a large-scale screening for Hoxa1 downstream targets by performing microarray analysis. Tissue from the rhombomere 3-5 region of wildtype and Hoxa1 null embryos, including neuroectoderm, mesoderm and otic ectoderm was microdissected at the peak of Hoxa1 expression. RNA from wildtype and Hoxa1-/- samples was hybridized to the Agilent mouse whole genome array. Tissue from the rhombomere 3-5 region of wildtype and Hoxa1 null embryos, including neuroectoderm, mesoderm and otic ectoderm was microdissected at the peak of Hoxa1 expression (1-6 somite stage).为更好地阐明同源盒基因A1（Hoxa1）在胚胎发生过程中的生物学功能，并深入解析该基因所调控的转录调控网络，我们通过微阵列分析技术对Hoxa1的下游靶基因开展了大规模筛选。我们在Hoxa1表达峰值时期（1至6体节阶段），对野生型与Hoxa1基因纯合缺失（Hoxa1 null）胚胎的菱脑3-5节段组织进行了显微解剖，该组织涵盖神经外胚层、中胚层与耳外胚层。随后，我们将野生型及Hoxa1-/-样本的核糖核酸（RNA）与安捷伦（Agilent）小鼠全基因组芯片进行杂交。